Cornwall, I am in heaven...

Hi All

Well I love Cornwall, it is really pretty, but most of all I have hired a car, so no more waiting for buses and losing time. I can go where I want, when I want and I love it!!! I got the car in Plymouth and have to return it there, but it was only 13 pound a day, plus petrol. I also got the extra 10 pound a day insurance, so if something happens to the car, I don't pay any extra. I thought that was worth it, I am not driving around terrified that someone will hit me or whatever, so am thoroughly enjoying myself. I have called the car Priscilla, I have no idea why, I just have, and we have been plenty of places together.


Meet priscilla, she is jusl like a dinky toy, really small.

We entered Cornwall yesterday morning and travelled to Liskeard, then down to St Austell and through to Truro. I could not believe how narrow the roads are. I had noticed in Scotland that some of the town roads are not very wide and then people park both sides so it is one lane traffic, you have to wait for each other and everyone waves to say thanks. It was different to what I am used to, but I learned and I am doing that here. I did wonder when I first arrived why all British cars are so small, almost like matchbox cars, now I know. On my way to my hotel, I passed through Stithians, I didn't expect to, but suddenly there it was. I couldn't believe it, I found the church and walked through the graveyard and investigated the church, it was awesome, just to be there. I could not find any family graves, though I do have photos of them that have been sent to me, but I didn't find one, you will see why. Luckily someone has put all the birth, death and marriages from the church online, so I can search them at my leisure. I only found them yesterday, so am pretty stoked!!. I then drove onto Scorrier, where my hotel is.

The churchyard at Stithians, the bit without the brambles!! I was thinking, don't they own a mower? I was pretty appauled by it actually. I couldn't find squat.

I booked into the hotel and got rid of my luggage then took a drive to Porthtowan and portreath, really lovely places, but all jammed in and the sand on the beach is grey. Yep grey?? Anyway I stopped and parked like the rest of them and went of to have a drink. I watched the local kids diving off different heights of the Cliff and would have taken a pic, but they were children and i didn't want people to think I was a weirdo, so you can't see what it was like, but it was great to watch. I then went to a local pub here in Scorrier for tea and retired early. The woman at the hotel warned me they had a loud party from Liverpool. For some reason I thought they would be footballers or young people at least. I was wrong!!

I have often wondered why in many of the travel novels I read they always talk about how rude the English are, I have found them to be all so kind and friendly, but I have discovered that although it would be hard to find a rude English person in everyday life, there is nothing more rude than some English people on holiday, it is like their manners go on holiday too!! I can give you some examples and they are just from breakfast today. Firstly as we headed into breakfast two English ladies broke into a run and filled both four slice toasters with bread, 8 slices for 2 people!! Okay maybe thoughtless not totally rude, but it still pissed me off!! i was hungry too. Not worth the bother though, I decided to have cereal and wait for the toaster. As the dining room was almost empty and I knew there was a bus load of people in I thought I would sit up the other end of the room, the table was for 6, but there were no small tables so I sat and had my cereal. I then went and got some toast and my eggs and bacon. When I returned a woman was sitting up the other end of the table, no problem. Suddenly this man was standing over me, he says "So, changed tables have we?" I literally had to look up at him he was standing so close. I said "Excuse me?". He repeated himself and I said "No, I have been sitting here since I first came in". He then said something about the four of them had been sitting there, and I suddenly realised he meant every other day, they had been there since Thursday. I said "You don't mean today, do you?" and he goes "No. we four have been sitting here all week". I said "And how am I meant to know that?" So I picked up my plate and moved. mumbling "How rude." as I left. But I couldn't believe it, who the hell did he think he was? How childish, the table was for 6, if they didn't want to share, they could have sat somewhere else, the restaurant was empty enough. I have come across that rude arrogance more than once, I preferred to move than put up with him, but the young man that worked there was pretty appalled. I said to him "Do you know where I can sit that will not get me into trouble?" and he was like "No I don't normally work in here". But I found another table and he came over with my teapot because I had left it on the other table, he was nice, but then he isn't on holiday is he? I went to get some jam and when I came back to my table, my toast was on the floor.... I have no idea how that happened, but I gave up, put it on my plate and left. I shall have a later breakfast tomorrow if I can to avoid the jerks. Mind you I had to put up with one of them snoring all night, the walls are paper thin.

Apart from the rude start I had an incredible day. Priscilla and I first went to Helston , I went to the Poldark mine, Priscilla stayed outside. It was great, I wanted to see what a tin mine was like as some of my ancestors had been Cornish miners. It was a fabulous place, the tour was great, only 4 of us on it, so really good. It was a great insight into my families past. I can understand why they left for Australia and became farmers, what an awful life.

Part of the mine. It was really interesting, but hard to show on here with one pic..

The guide told me the prettiest road in all Cornwall was from St Ives to St Just, so that is what I decided to do next. Well he was right. It was glorious, firstly St Ives is the prettiest village I have seen in all Cornwall, I loved it. I couldn't find a park, which is pretty typical here, probably why they all park anywhere they can. They do the same in Ireland and when I commented to Don (remember Don?)he said "In Ireland we have a high regard for the law, as it applies to other people. But don't try to make it apply to me". I think that applies here as well. Anyway as I was driving along looking for a park, the next thing I new I was out of town. It is impossible to turn around in Cornwall, believe me it really is, you will see why from my photo's. So I carried on along. Well, the roads are really narrow, luckily the cars are tiny, but even then there are so many places where I prayed I didn't meet an oncoming car and the Good Lord heard me, because I didn't, not on any of the minuscule roads at least. The countryside is beautiful, but you only get glimpses of it, as the hedges are so high either side of the road, you cannot see to the side and you cannot see what is coming around the bends, it is really quite scary. According to the Internet, Victoria is 228000 Sq Km and Cornwall is 3,563 sq km. So about 6.5 of them would fit into Victoria.. No wonder it is so quick to get from one place to another, except on the St Ives road of course. I was going so slow, they had all these signs saying SLOW, I thought if I get any slower I will be stopped altogether!! You have to drive through farmyards, the road actually goes between the farm buildings, it is bazaar.

Not sure if this was a farm, or just a house, but you can see how close you drive to the buildings, some were even closer I reacon.

Some of the little hamlets have signs saying 30, I would have had to speed up to go 30, honestly. You couldn't tell what was coming at you and sometimes these tiny roads actually had road narrows signs and I thought "Good grief, is it going to become a footpath?". It really was something, but I don't think I will do it again, too bad for the nerves. I think it was only about 18 miles, I cannot tell you exactly because the map the car firm gave me doesn't show distance, they probably don't think it is worth it, as you will be there in a minute. I swear in 10 minutes you could go through 3 to 4 villages, it is really amazing to me, coming from Australia and all. I didn't worry about getting lost, after all you could be back where you started in half an hour, so no problem, you just can't turn around.

I am not sure if this pic will give you an idea of how narrow the road is, remember I am driving something not much bigger than a Tonka toy...

From St Just we went on to Penzance, I drove along looking for a park near the beach, but no luck as usual, and then the roads were closed for roadworks, so I meandered through the village, they are really pretty but I started to think about it and you know in about 2 days I would be like "Get away from me!!". There is no space, you are living on top of one another and I really don't think I could cope. Many of them are right on the road way, so not front gardens at all. I would get very claustrophobic.


One of the towns between, St ives & St Jude, don't ask me which one, they don't want me to know!! I couldn't live like this, I need my space...

We then went on to Marazion (I think, half the places don't have signs). Anyway I walked to St Micheals Mount from there, it is really lovely, a castle on an Island just off the mainland. You can walk across at low tide. I had a drink and a piece of cake, but did not go into the castle. The Cornish are like the Irish, they hate to put up signs or notices to tell you anything, it is like information is costly or something. So I didn't even ask how much the entry fee was, I am a little over castles right now. I need to have some time without looking at old buildings... While I was sitting having my cake, the tide started to come in. I was going ot have to wade back to shore, but a bloke told me the boats would be leaving and it was only 1.50 pound, about $3, so I did that instead.

St Michaels Mount, form the distance. It really was lovely.

I then drove back to Scorrier and am now relaxing on my bed. It is only 5:30 here, but I am bushed and need to recuperate before going to dinner. I shall find somewhere else to eat to avoid the rude people below.

I will leave you with some pics and I shall work out where I am off to tomorrow...

Cheers

Lones